Time system



Aug. 8, 1939. as. RICHARDSON TIME SYSTEM Filed April 27, 1956 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME SYSTEM tion of Delaware Application April 27, 1936, Serial No. 76,660

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to time systems and more particularly to synchronous motor systems to which are connected, among other apparatus, synchronous motor con- 5 trolled job time recorders.

As pointed out in Patents Nos. 1,979,318 and 1,979,319 issued November 6, 1934, to A. L. Denniston, the purpose of a job time recorder is to make a printed record of the time a workman starts and stops work on a given job. This printed record is used by the costkeeping department as a basis for determining the labor-cost involved in manufacturing a given product.

The workman is provided with a card or ticket upon which he stamps the starting time by inserting the card in the job time recorder and manual 1y actuating the imprint lever or other printing means. When he finishes that particular job he again inserts the same ticket in the recorder and makes a second time imprint. The difference in time between these two imprints indicates the elapsed time involved on that particular job.

In certain costkeeping systems it is desirable to have job time recorders automatically stop operating during the non-working periods, which are usually the lunch and supper periods. This is a practice which has been quite extensively used with minute impulse systems, but when the scheme is applied to synchronous motor controlled job time recorder systems difficulty is encountered due to the fact that different synchronous motors have different stopping and starting char acteristics, 'i. e., some motors start quicker and attain synchronous speed in a shorter time than others and also the stopping rate or length of time a motor will coast after the current is cut off differs for diiferent motors. It is apparent therefore that when the motors are stopped and started several times a day as outlined above, the job time recorders will become scattered and will not all register the same time. The effect is of course cumulative, and the scattering becomes greater day after day.

It was to prevent this scattering of synchronous motor controlled job time recorders that the schemes disclosed in the above mentioned Denniston patents were designed. However, when those schemes are employed it is necessary to have the job time recorders connected to a separate wiring system. This means that in many cases two complete wiring systems must be installed, one to take care of the suspendoperation job time recorders and the other for the in-and-out recorders, secondary clocks, and other time apparatus.

It is the object of the present invention therefore to provide a time system in which the synchronous motor controlled job time recorders which are arranged to suspend operation during certain non-working periods may be connected to the same wiring system as other continuously operating time apparatus. Another object of the invention is to provide a time system including synchronous motor controlled job time recorders arranged to suspend operation during certain non-working periods in which there is no possibility of scattering of time indicated by the job time recorders due to the periodic suspension of their operation.

The above and other objects and a complete understanding of the operation of the invention will be aparent from a perusal of the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, comprising one figure only, which shows a schematic circuit diagram of a time system embodying the present invention.

The time system disclosed in the single sheet of drawing comprises a master apparatus M including a synchronous motor driven program instrument and an associated sequence switch, a job time recorder R-i, which is arranged to suspend operation during certain non-working periods, an in-and-out recorder or other time recording device R2 which is to operate continuously and is arranged to print the time of day, and a synchronous motor clock C which of course operates continuously and in which the hands are geared directly to the rotor of the synchronous motor.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the master apparatus M includes the synchronous motor driven program instrument comprising a synchronous motor i having its field coil connected across the alternating current leads 24 and 25. The rotor of the synchronous motor is geared thru suitable reduction gearing, indicated generally at 2, to a shaft 3 which revolves at the rate of one revolution per minute. Mounted on shaft 3 is a cam 4 having a raised cam portion l3 arranged to operate contacts l4, composed of contact springs 12 and i5, once each minute. Also mounted on shaft 3 is a pinion 5 which is geared to a gear wheel 6 mounted on a shaft which also mounts the time disc I. The gearing indicated at 56 is so designed that the time disc I revolves at the rate of one revolution in 24 hours. The time disc I' is provided with a plurality of holes near its periphery in which may be mounted by means of screws 45 a number of cam members 8 which are arranged to operate contacts 9 composed of the springs l0 and H. The cam members 8 are mounted in the proper holes 44 so that contacts 9 are closed at the desired time. Only several of these cam members have been shown in the drawing for the purpose of illustration and this showing is merely diagrammatic so that the operation of the system may be clearly explained.

The master apparatus M also includes a sequence switch comprising an electro-magnet I6 having an armature and operating lever |8 on which is mounted the usual pawl which engages the teeth of ratchet wheel Mounted on the same shaft as ratchet wheel I! is a cam 2| which controls the contacts 20 comprising springs 22 and 23. The ratchet wheel l'l has twice as many teeth as there are raised or operating points on the cam 2|; thus the contacts 20 are alternately opened and closed by successive operations of the electro-magnet IS. The electro-magnet I6 is connected to the alternating current leads 24 and 25 in series with.a rectifier l9 and the contacts 9 and I4.

The recorder Rl comprises a plurality of typewheels 39 which are operated step by step by means of an electro-magnet-35 thru the armature lever 31, the pawl mounted thereon which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38, and the operating spring 40 which retracts the armature lever and thereby steps the typewheels. Altho only one typewheel is diagrammatically shown on the drawing, it will be understood that this showing indicates a plurality of time typewheels driven thru Geneva gearing and that the electro-magnet 35 steps only the first or minute typewheel, the remainder being driven from the minute typewheel thru the Geneva gearing.

The electro-magnet 35 is energized thru contacts 33 mounted on springs 32 and 34 which in ranged to operate contacts 32 and 34 once per.

minute.

The recorder R2 may be a continuously operating job time recorder or a workmans in-andout recorder which prints the time of day. The type wheels and operating mechanism therefor in such a recorder are similar in all respects to the corresponding elements of recorder Rl. The

showing of R2 is, therefore, not being described in detail but the elements thereof have been designated with like reference numerals as the corresponding elements of recorder Rl but the numerals applied to R2 have been primed.

The synchronous motor driven clock C comprises a synchronous motor 4| whose field coil is connected directly across the alternating current leads 24 and 25 and whoserotor is geared to the hands of the clock thru suitable gearing indicated generally at 42. These synchronous motor driven clocks are well known in the art and need not be shown or explained in greater detail.

The synchronous motors 21, 21, and 4| of the secondary apparatuses are connected directly across the alternating current leads 24 and 25 and therefore operate continuously as long as power is available. The synchronous motor 4| is directly geared to the clock hands of clock C and this clock therefore indicates correct time as long as there are no interruptions in current. In the recorder R2 which may be an in-and-out recorder or other recording device used to record the time of day, the typewheels 39' are operated step by step each minute so that they will at all times print the correct time of day. The electromagnet 35 which steps the typewheels is connected in series with a rectifier 36' and the minute contacts 33' to the alternating current leads 24 and 25. Contacts 33 are closedonce each minute by the cam projection 3| and momentarily energize the electro-magnet 35' to advance the typewheels one step. -In the recorder R--| which is a job time recorder arranged to suspend operation during certain non-working periods, the contacts 33 are closed once each minute by the cam'projection 3| in the same manner as in recorder R2. However the oilcuit for the electro-magnet 35 extends from the alternating current lead 25 to rectifier 36, winding of the electro-magnet 35, contacts 33, and conductor 46 to a third wire 26 of the system. This third wire 26 extends from the master apparatus and is connected to the other alternating current lead 24 thru contacts 20 which are controlled by the sequence switch of the master apparatus.

In the master apparatus the contacts l4are closed once each minute by the minute cam 4 but such closures are ineffective until such time as contacts 9 are closed by the time disc I. For

the purpose of explanation it will be assumed that the suspend operation job time recorders are designed for a 22-hour cycle and that one half hour is to be eliminated for the lunch period, another half hour for the supper period, and one hour is to be eliminated just before the start of the working day. The cam members 8 are then mounted on the time disc 1 in such a position that they will close the contacts 9 at the desired times. The reason for inserting contacts M in series with contacts 9 is that due to the slow travel of time disc 1 the contacts 9 will remain closed for a relatively long time, for example 15 or 20 seconds. In order to eliminate the necessity of holding electro-magnet |6 energized during all of this time, the minute contacts M, which are preferably closed only for a period of one second, are connected in series with contacts 9. The contacts l4 therefore provide the momentary closure of the circuit of electromagnet l6 during the time that contacts 9 are closed.

Assuming that the lunch hour period is from 12:00 to 12:30, the contacts 9 will be closed by one of the cam projections 8 at approximately 12:00 oclock and the circuit to electro-magnet |6 will be completed by the minute contacts l4 when the exact time is reached. Electro-magnet l6 energizes and attracts the armature l8 causing the pawl to engage a fresh tooth on the ratchet wheel ll. When the circuit is again opened at contacts |4 electro-magnet l6 releases allowing the operating spring 43 to retract armature l8 and step the ratchet wheel and cam 2| one step. The operating spring 22 therefore drops to the low portion of cam 2| and opens contacts 20. The opening of contacts 20 disconnects the lead 26 from the alternating current lead 24 and therefore opens the power circuit of the magnets 35 in all of the job time recorders which are arranged to suspend operation. From 12:00 oclock until 12:30 the circuit of magnet in recorder R-l is therefore open at contacts 20 and altho the synchronous motor 21 continues to operate and contacts 33 are closed each minute, the electro-magnet 35 cannot be energized and the typewheels 39 are therefore not operated during this period. In the in-and-out recorder R,2 the lead 41 is connected to the alternating current lead 24 and the electro-magnet 35' is therefore energized each minute by the closure of contacts 33 and the typewheels 39 are periodically stepped so that they will print the correct time of day at all times.

At approximately 12:30 o'clock the contacts 9 will again be closed by one of the cam projections 8 and at exactly 12:30 contacts l4 will be closed by the minute cam 4. This energizes electro-magnet l6 momentarily and the cam 2| is therefore operated one step so that the spring 22 again engages a high point on cam 2| and contacts 20 are closed. Closure of contacts 20 again connects the lead 26 to the alternating current lead 24 and completes the power supply to the electro-magnet 35 of the job time recorder R-l dependent upon contacts 33. Thus from 12:30 until the supper period which may begin at 8:00 o'clock, the job time recorder R-l operates in the same manner as the in-and-out recorder R-2, the circuit of electro-magnet 35 being completed each minute at contacts 33 thereby completing the circuit of the magnet from the alternating current lead 25, rectifier 3i, winding of magnet 35, contacts 33-, lead 46, lead 26, contacts 20 of the sequence switch, to alternating current lead 24.

At 6:00 o'clock contacts l4 and 9 are again closed simultaneously and the cam 2! is operated one step to again open contacts 20 thereby cutting ofi the power supply to the magnets of the suspend-operation job time recorders such as R-l. The recorders such as R-l will therefore not be operated until the contacts 9 and II are again simultaneously closed which in the assumed case will be at 6:30 oclock.

From the foregoing explanation of the system it will be seen that synchronous motor secondary clocks, in-and-out recorders, and other time recording devices which must operate continuously, may be connected to the same alternating current leads as the job time recorders which are arranged to suspend operation during certain non-working periods. Since the synchronous motors in the job time recorders as well as in the other apparatus are permanently connected directly to the alternating current leads and operate continuously, there is no possibility of the recorders becoming scattered due to different starting and stopping characteristics of the motors. The motors oi the job time recorders are not stopped but the current supply to the operating magnets of such recorders is cut off during the non-working periods. This eliminates the necessity of special apparatus in the secondary devices and permits all of the apparatus to be connected to the same alternating current leads. It is only necessary to run an extra wire to the Job time recorders which are arranged to suspend operation during the non-working periods. 'l'hecostoi'twocompletewirlngsystems,onefor the suspend operation job time recorders, and the other for the remaining time equipment is therefore eliminated.

Altho a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in the drawing, it is understood that various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A time system comprising master apparatus and a plurality of secondary apparatuses, a synchronous motor in each secondary apparatus and electrical connections therefor whereby each motor operates continuously, means controlled by each motor for advancing its associated apparatus, and means controlled by said master apparatus for periodically rendering said last means inoperative.

2. A time system comprising master apparatus and a plurality of secondary apparatusa, a two wire alternating current supply circuit, a synchronous motor in each of said secondary apparatuses connected to said supply circuit and arranged to operate continuously, means controlled by each motor for advancing its associated apparatus, and means controlled by said master apparatus and including a third wire between said master apparatus and said secondary apparatuses for suspending the advance of said secondary apparatuses for certain periods in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

3. A job time recorder system, master apparatus, a plurality of job time recorders each including recording mechanism, a two wire alternating current supply circuit, a SYDOhI'ODOlB motor in each of said job time recorders connected to said supply circuit, a pair of contacts in each recorder and operating means therefor controlled by the associated motor, a magnet in each recorder for advancing the recording mechanism under control of said contacts, a third wire extending from said master apparatus'to said recorders and included in the circuits of all of said magnets, a pair of contacts in said master apparatus for opening said third wire to render all of said magnets inoperative, and means in said master apparatus for opening and closing said contacts in accordance with a predetermined time schedule.

4. In a time system, master apparatus and secondary apparatus. a synchronous motor for advancing said secondary apparatus and electrical connections therefor whereby said motor 'operates continuously, and means controlled by 

